It was supposed to be a calm day. Even though he had that stupid photo shoot, he had two whole days off from filming. He had woken up feeling full of energy. He'd practiced, eaten breakfast, and gotten ready for work. The streets weren't crowded, and he'd reached headquarters on time.
When Noah didn't pick up the phone, he thought it was a good idea to drop by the office. He hadn't been in the office for a couple of weeks. And so, upstairs he went.
He'd run into that girl and had so courteously kept her company until Chloe's return. But no! She had to ruin everything by being an intern. An intern. On his team.
That meant only one thing.
Chloe has betrayed me.
He was now standing in front of her, arms crossed, demanding an explanation.
"Sit down, Luca," Chloe told him.
"It's not time to sit down. It's time you tell me what you were thinking."
"Please calm down and act professionally."
"I am acting professionally! That's why I'm accusing you of breaking our deal. What did we agree, Chloe? The team would be small. Only people we trust, no outsiders. Do you even remember?" he asked, deeply upset.
It had been seven years since that night in the alley, seven years since they made that deal. Ground rules had been set. She couldn't just do whatever she wanted.
"I remember very well. And you know I always take your best interest into account. Not mine, not the company's. Yours," Chloe replied.
"Bringing a complete stranger onboard? How is that in my best interest? Do you want me to remind you of the risks?" Luca said, terrified. He began pacing back and forth, gesticulating wildly.
"Exactly. She is a complete stranger who will be on the other side of the planet in a few months. She has no concern about you, or the industry, or anything. She's just an intern here to help us out."
"Well, she can help another department. Why does she have to come here?"
Chloe kept silent.
Oh no, Chloe... You've done something worse than just hiring an intern.
He stared at her, but she avoided his gaze.
"Chloe, send her to another team."
"I can't. I've already committed to help and guide her with her thesis."
"There are other managers as good as you. She can go to that Foster guy who manages the Perez twins," Luca suggested, nodding emphatically.
"Not possible."
"I'll talk to him, I'll explain—" he began.
"They can't support her subject. Only I can," she interrupted him.
"Why?"
"Because her subject is you."
The words echoed in the silence.
His mind blanked.
There it was again, that familiar punch in the gut. The same cold rush he always felt when something threatened to reveal his secrets – everything he was hiding with his persona. For a second he wasn't Luca West, the star, but the boy that night in the alley, fallen on the ground, beaten and humiliated.
"Me? Her subject is me? Are you crazy?" he cried out. He gazed at her, furious. Not only would this girl be there, but she would be writing about him. Chloe was being reckless.
"It's not you, you. It's your brand," Chloe explained.
"I don't care! My brand and I are the same to me, and we share the same risks and fears. Why on earth did she pick me?" he kept yelling, trying to make a sense out of it.
"I don't know the specifics of why she selected the topic. Let me explain. A month ago, my professor, Professor Butler, called and asked if I would take one of his students as an intern. He explained the thesis topic and asked me to meet her. I went to the interview, and Noelle... well, she's brilliant. She has great potential, and we are always looking for people like her. He was my professor, and he's highly respected in the business community. I had an excellent candidate. I couldn't say no."
"Yes, you could."
"Luca, people like me have obligations. We need to do favors. When my professor calls, I have to respond."
"No, you just wanted to show off your work and your achievements."
"Luca! How dare you?" Chloe lost her usual calm composure for a moment. "You know I'm risking a lot too! I wouldn't have done this if there was any real danger. And I don't brag about what we've achieved. When did I ever give you that impression?".
Had he crossed a line? He would never admit it.
"It doesn't matter. This thesis will never happen. I will not give my permission," Luca said.
"Who said I need your permission?" Chloe's voice was sharp. "Don't you remember that the company owns the brand?"
The words hit their mark. He knew that according to their contract, all of his rights belonged to the company, and Chloe was the one who made the final decisions. Of course, over the years, she had always discussed everything with him—roles, collaborations, commercials. But legally, she could sign anything on his behalf. He felt the power imbalance viscerally and lowered his head, inhaling deeply.
"Sorry, Luca. I didn't mean it that way," Chloe said. Her voice was calm again, but far from apologetic.
"No, you said it right. The brand is your creation. I am just a... Legion One product." He looked at his watch. "Look at the time! We don't want to keep my girlfriend waiting," he added, a fake smile plastered on his face.
"Luca, we haven't finished here."
"Yes, we have. Products don't speak. Bye!" He said, and stormed out of the office.
He felt his body aching like that night years ago. But this time he wasn't beaten. He was being torn apart by the woman who was supposed to protect him.
He was furious. He was confused. His mind was a bundle of chaotic thoughts. When he exited Chloe's office, they all looked at him, but his eyes remained locked on the floor.
He had to pass by that girl. Why wasn't there another way out? He wished he could teleport somewhere—anywhere—to escape.
Luca only managed to grunt, "Let's go" to Noah. If he had to form one more sentence, he was sure he would scream.
He stepped into the hallway and waited. Noah knew him well enough not to speak when he was in this state.
The elevator brought them to the underground parking lot, and they headed to his car. Tossing the keys to Noah, he got into the passenger's seat.
Luca opened the glove compartment, pulled out a pack of gum, and shoved a piece into his mouth. While Noah drove, a thick and heavy silence grew between them. Luca crossed his arms and leaned his head against the window.
He chewed the gum as if it were his worst enemy. An enemy that still had no face, but whose threat was imminent.
Chloe, why did you put me in this situation? Why are you so reckless after all we've been through? Everything we're hiding could surface at any moment if we're not careful...
Everyone would find out his secrets. His dealings with the mob were just the tip of the iceberg. After exposing everything, they would chew him up and spit him out onto the pavement. And what he had built would crumble like a line of dominoes.
He spat the gum out and immediately took another.
He realized he was more scared than angry. Fear always made him irrational. He needed to get a grip and find a solution, fast. Attacking everyone wouldn't work.
He already regretted accusing Chloe of showing off. He knew how much she had sacrificed for him.
But he couldn't apologize. That would look like offering forgiveness, like giving permission to do as she liked. He had to make it clear that he would oppose her at every opportunity.
He sat upright as a new realization hit him: there was more than one traitor. He turned and glared at Noah.
You little rat...
"Why are you driving my car?" Luca asked.
"You gave me the keys, remember?" Noah replied, his voice flat.
Right —he was too angry to drive. "Yes, I do. But you should have said no."
After a small pause, Luca asked: "Did you know?"
Noah remained silent. Luca noticed his knuckles tighten, the skin turning a shade whiter from the extra pressure on the steering wheel.
"Know about what?"
"That the tooth fairy doesn't exist! Are you serious?" Luca's nostrils flared angrily.
"You must be referring to the intern."
"I knew you were the smart one from the day we met! That is exactly what I'm referring to," Luca said, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"Nope."
Luca felt a violent urge to punch his best friend right in his pretty face.
"Why didn't it cross your mind to tell me?" Luca asked after taking a deep breath.
"Would anything have changed?"
"Didn't you consider that I might—just might—get angry?"
"You get angry easily. You are not the easiest person to handle, you know."
"Me? Are you serious? I am the most easy-going person you have ever met! Am I not professional? Do I cause any problems at work? Doesn't everyone like working with me?" Luca said, refusing to accept such preposterous comments.
"I won't object. You are exemplary at work. But everything else, man, you're a mess!" Noah said, laughing.
He felt a vein bulge on his forehead. He took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and then exhaled slowly.
"Today I realized what kind of friends I have. Both of you think this is trivial. What if she was sent here to spy on us and expose everything? It wouldn't just mean going out of business. Do you remember what that would mean, for me and for Chloe?" Luca asked.
"Spy? You're watching too much drama, dude! She's just a student. That professor probably opened his contact list, stumbled upon Chloe's name, thought she was a good fit, and sent the request. Don't think so highly of yourself."
"I don't know if she's the spy, or the professor, but it's not a coincidence. She came here on purpose."
"Yes, she came on purpose to be an intern. Are you listening to yourself?"
"Let's assume what you say is true, and she is innocent. What if she finds out something and decides to tell?" Luca wanted to know.
"Tell? Why would she tell?"
"For money. What else? She'll soon realize she can sell information to the press or our competitors for good money. There are a lot of people who would love to see a Fisher star falling apart," Luca reminded him.
"But she has signed all the necessary papers. She would be in serious trouble," Noah stated seriously.
"How will you be able to prosecute her? As Chloe said, she'll be on the other side of the planet in a couple of months," Luca highlighted.
Noah remained silent. Luca felt victorious.
You hadn't considered that, smartass.
He wasn't being absurd. There was a real risk. And it was up to him to make it right.
"Don't worry, my friend. I will take care of everything," Luca continued, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, his right fist tightened.
"What do you mean?" Noah asked, a note of anxiety in his voice.
"You don't need to know," Luca said, a plan already beginning to form in his mind.
I'll handle this. Just wait and see, my friend.